Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
MISSOULA WATER
MISSOULA WATER delivers tap water graded C (69/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 68,200 residents in MISSOULA, Montana using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Radium, combined (-226 and -228) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 406-552-6700.
Is MISSOULA tap water safe to drink?
MISSOULA WATER delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (69/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 68,200 residents in MISSOULA, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Uranium, Dibromochloromethane. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for MISSOULA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for MISSOULA WATER.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.452 ppb, 113x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 1.49 ppb, 25x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Radium, combined (-226 and -228) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernRadium, combined (-226 and -228) detected at 0.95 pCi/L, 19x above the EWG health guideline of 0.05 pCi/L.
Contact MISSOULA WATER
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for MISSOULA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis or water softener
$249-$750RO removes radium effectively; ion-exchange water softeners also reduce radium concentration.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 69/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.452 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 113× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.49 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.95 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.515 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.154 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.7× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.788 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.6× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.789 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.6× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
0.515 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
0.766 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 5.1× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.12 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.0× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.78 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.8× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.163 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.243 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
252.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0757 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
31.1 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.439 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.251 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.0426 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.141 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.142 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.00674 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
1.55 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.000286 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
MISSOULA WATER service area
This water system serves 1 community in Missoula County, Montana. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MISSOULA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.